Today was the start of the contact period. Adam Friedman put out a good tweet earlier, so I linked that below if you'd like to learn more on these next few weeks.
I'll reach out to contacts throughout the coming days to learn more. However, one thing to report today is that James Franklin, Ricky Rahne and Herb Hand are all at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse right now to watch QB Jake Zembiec and Aquinas Institute. Zembiec is on the verge of winning his second state championship. Aquinas is up big on Saratoga right now.
Again, I'll do my best to follow the staff these next two weeks, leading up to the holiday dead period on Dec. 14.
Last Update - Monday - 8:12 PM
- Terry Smith is in Pittsburgh on Monday. I know he stopped in to check up on 2017 DB Lamont Wade and 2018 QB Phil Jurkovec earlier today. Since they're not seniors, Smith is only allowed to speak with their coaches. For 2016 prospects, the coaches can actually sit-down and hold talks with the players during this contact period.
I'll try to confirm some other visits. I imagine he'll see Ath. Khaleke Hudson, DB Damar Hamlin, RB Miles Sanders and probably a few others. It's just difficult to confirm those kinds of things with those players.
UPDATED: Monday - 8:09 PM - Terry Smith will be in Pittsburgh until Wednesday. So he'll be meeting with all the top 2016 prospects and most of the coaches for the top 2017 and 2018 prospects at some point over the next few days. Exactly when, I'm not sure.
UPDATED: Monday - 10:12 PM - I confirmed with Miles Sanders this evening that both Charles Huff and Terry Smith will meet with Sanders at his school and at his home Tuesday. Also, Pitt's offensive coordinator and running back coach did the same on Monday, both in-school and in-home.
- Brent Pry is in Ohio Monday to meet with LB Brendan Ferns at his school. Still no word when an in-home visit may come. He also went down to Charleston, W.V., to meet with the coaches for 2017 DB Derrek Pitts.
- Charles Huff was in Michigan Monday to meet with K Quinn Nordin. He met with Nordin and his coach at his school this afternoon. Huff just wrapped up an in-home visit with Quinn and the Nordin family a few minutes ago.
- Josh Gattis was in Philadelphia on Monday to check up on LB Shaka Toney, DT Karamo Dioubate and multiple 2017 prospects. Gattis will then fly down to Florida on Tuesday to meet with WR Tre Nixon during school. I expect Franklin and Gattis to do an in-home visit sometime in these next two weeks. It'll likely come right around Dec. 10-13, but the staff is still trying to plan exactly when with Nixon and his family. I expect Nixon to make a commitment sometime around Christmas. As of today, I believe he's leaning towards Florida.
- Ricky Rahne will be at Lackawanna C.C. on Wednesday to meet with DB Kyzir White and QB Andrew Ford. I'll catch up with the Lackawanna coaches following that visit.
- Ricky Rahne is expected to meet with QB Brandon McIlwain at his school on Wednesday.
- James Franklin and Sean Spencer will be in Marshfield, Mass., on Friday to meet with TE Danny Dalton at his school and at his home that evening.
- Ricky Rahne or Bob Shoop are expected to meet with DB Jordan Fuller later this week. I'm still trying to confirm specifics.
I'll reach out to contacts throughout the coming days to learn more. However, one thing to report today is that James Franklin, Ricky Rahne and Herb Hand are all at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse right now to watch QB Jake Zembiec and Aquinas Institute. Zembiec is on the verge of winning his second state championship. Aquinas is up big on Saratoga right now.
Again, I'll do my best to follow the staff these next two weeks, leading up to the holiday dead period on Dec. 14.
Last Update - Monday - 8:12 PM
- Terry Smith is in Pittsburgh on Monday. I know he stopped in to check up on 2017 DB Lamont Wade and 2018 QB Phil Jurkovec earlier today. Since they're not seniors, Smith is only allowed to speak with their coaches. For 2016 prospects, the coaches can actually sit-down and hold talks with the players during this contact period.
I'll try to confirm some other visits. I imagine he'll see Ath. Khaleke Hudson, DB Damar Hamlin, RB Miles Sanders and probably a few others. It's just difficult to confirm those kinds of things with those players.
UPDATED: Monday - 8:09 PM - Terry Smith will be in Pittsburgh until Wednesday. So he'll be meeting with all the top 2016 prospects and most of the coaches for the top 2017 and 2018 prospects at some point over the next few days. Exactly when, I'm not sure.
UPDATED: Monday - 10:12 PM - I confirmed with Miles Sanders this evening that both Charles Huff and Terry Smith will meet with Sanders at his school and at his home Tuesday. Also, Pitt's offensive coordinator and running back coach did the same on Monday, both in-school and in-home.
- Brent Pry is in Ohio Monday to meet with LB Brendan Ferns at his school. Still no word when an in-home visit may come. He also went down to Charleston, W.V., to meet with the coaches for 2017 DB Derrek Pitts.
- Charles Huff was in Michigan Monday to meet with K Quinn Nordin. He met with Nordin and his coach at his school this afternoon. Huff just wrapped up an in-home visit with Quinn and the Nordin family a few minutes ago.
- Josh Gattis was in Philadelphia on Monday to check up on LB Shaka Toney, DT Karamo Dioubate and multiple 2017 prospects. Gattis will then fly down to Florida on Tuesday to meet with WR Tre Nixon during school. I expect Franklin and Gattis to do an in-home visit sometime in these next two weeks. It'll likely come right around Dec. 10-13, but the staff is still trying to plan exactly when with Nixon and his family. I expect Nixon to make a commitment sometime around Christmas. As of today, I believe he's leaning towards Florida.
- Ricky Rahne will be at Lackawanna C.C. on Wednesday to meet with DB Kyzir White and QB Andrew Ford. I'll catch up with the Lackawanna coaches following that visit.
- Ricky Rahne is expected to meet with QB Brandon McIlwain at his school on Wednesday.
- James Franklin and Sean Spencer will be in Marshfield, Mass., on Friday to meet with TE Danny Dalton at his school and at his home that evening.
- Ricky Rahne or Bob Shoop are expected to meet with DB Jordan Fuller later this week. I'm still trying to confirm specifics.
